Northampton City Council approved funds to kill plant

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – By an 8-1 vote, the Northampton City Council approved $2,450 to try and kill an invasive plant species that’s threatening the conservation land. It’s the Fitzgerald Conservation area near North Farms Road.

They’ll cut the stalks of the plant and then apply herbicide similar to Roundup to the invasive plant species that they discovered in the lake and the marsh. If left untreated, the plant can choke out other plants and cut off the natural food supply to living things in the area.

Northampton City Council President Bill Dwight told 22News, the plant is similar to vines and it’s not native to North America. A woman who lives just across the street told 22News she thinks it’s money well spent.

“I think if its the only way to treat it and control it then we need to do it. Its a very populated place to canoeing and hiking there are a lot of people over there so I think it needs to be taken care of.,” said Linda Merriam.

They’ll only be using a small amount of the herbicide and won’t be dropping it from the air.